The language might be stuffy and the scenarios from a distant era of a place far away, but the human interactions of Jeeves and his charge Bertie Wooster are endlessly entertaining and on point. The endless cast of overbearing aunts and romantic intrigues made for a great comic novel.
Maybe it is hard to separate one Wodehouse novel from another, as they all seem to include a large cast of exaggerated characters loosely based on Wodehouse's own expansive and odd family tree. Bertie bumbles into an adventure, requiring Jeeves, his clever and calm valet, to find a way to extricate him and make all right with the world.
Still, the writing is very clever. As an example, from the Mating Season comes the line "As far as the eye could see, I found myself gain on a surging sea of aunts." Wodehouse often references literary sources including Shakespeare and Tennyson, even A.A. Milne with comic changes. He also uses variations on familiar word formations to create a comic effect, like "de-dogging the premises". His use of puns, his over-the -top characterizations and the underlying truth of the human condition, rendered with affection made Wodehouse a pretty reliable read.
Thanks to Lynn for hosting in her beautiful house, always a treat and thanks to everyone who brought great things to eat and drink! And many thanks to Maggie who has invited the book club for a private tour and reception of the VMFA Congo Masks exhibit in January. Date TBD, but thank you Maggie for this very kind invitation!
Our next meeting is the annual Holiday Book Swap at my house. There has been a change of date - we will now meet on December 17, which is a Monday at 6:30. Let me know what you would like to bring, I am hoping to get an apple cake on the table.
If you are new, here is a quick rundown. This is a Yankee Swap format. Each person brings a book that you think others should read - no need to buy one if you don't want, just pull your favorite off the shelf, wrap it and write a note about why this book appeals to you. DON'T SIGN THE NOTE!! We want this to be anonymous.
Each of us will pull a number, then select a book. If you want someone else's book, you can steal it when it is your turn. The book that gets traded around the most will be our next read, this year in February. Fun!!
See you all in December, so hard to imagine that it is that time again!
1 comment:
Celia, i enjoyed reading your thoughts on Plum immensely. Here's a favorite line from one of his novels which had me laughing out loud: "Like so many substantial citizens of America, he had married young and kept on marrying, springing from blonde to blonde like the chamois of the Alps leaping from crag to crag.”
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